Cost of Living Comparison Between Mali and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Mali and South Africa

😐 Solo nomad: Mali is 3.6% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 15.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mali is 1.7% more expensive than South Africa without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mali
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.63 F CFA 3,747
$8.70 R 143
-23.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.47 F CFA 21.2K
$38.91 R 641
-3.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.46 F CFA 3,648
$5.17 R 85.3
24.95%
Cappuccino
$1.84 F CFA 1,041
$2.05 R 33.82
-10.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 F CFA 414
$1.02 R 16.87
-28.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 F CFA 343
$0.76 R 12.51
-19.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 F CFA 1,328
$2.26 R 37.20
3.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$21.06 F CFA 11.9K
$2.53 R 41.77
732.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mali
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 F CFA 1,311
$1.10 R 18.20
110.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 F CFA 1,967
$0.94 R 15.51
270.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.62 R 26.76
-
Eggs
$4.43 F CFA 2,499
$2.22 R 36.61
99.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.41 F CFA 9,830
$7.52 R 124
131.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.31 F CFA 9,773
$4.48 R 73.8
286.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 F CFA 7,431
$6.61 R 109
99.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.19 F CFA 1,802
$1.50 R 24.74
112.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 F CFA 821
$1.42 R 23.41
2.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 F CFA 1,581
$1.46 R 24.08
91.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.32 F CFA 1,313
$1.51 R 24.91
53.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 F CFA 936
$1.26 R 20.70
31.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 F CFA 1,039
$1.29 R 21.34
42.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.10 F CFA 56.9
$1.03 R 16.95
-90.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 F CFA 1,328
$0.97 R 15.93
142.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.96 F CFA 540
$2.87 R 47.30
-66.55%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$4.90 R 80.7
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 F CFA 861
$1.31 R 21.65
16.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 F CFA 739
$1.73 R 28.59
-24.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Mali
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.75 F CFA 2,684
$1.65 R 27.17
187.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.20 R 728
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.14 R 18.79
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 F CFA 694
$1.09 R 17.98
12.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.70 R 77.5
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 F CFA 643
$1.30 R 21.35
-12.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.8K R 342.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.5K R 387.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mali
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 F CFA 84.8K
$111 R 1,835
34.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$32.36 R 533
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.2 F CFA 32.3K
$40.49 R 667
41.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mali
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.6 F CFA 38.7K
$31.96 R 527
114.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.95 F CFA 2,233
$9.72 R 160
-59.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60 F CFA 3,165
$6.80 R 112
-17.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mali
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.0 F CFA 44.6K
$189 R 3,107
-58.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$4,400 R 72.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mali
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$50.2 R 827
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$30.53 R 503
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$94.5 R 1,558
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$81.3 R 1,340
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mali
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 F CFA 97.8K
$453 R 7,461
-61.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$78.5 F CFA 44.3K
$372 R 6,132
-78.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$410 F CFA 231.6K
$906 R 14.9K
-54.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 F CFA 170.8K
$703 R 11.6K
-56.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.2K F CFA 5.7M
$1,150 R 19.0K
784.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$840 F CFA 474.2K
$836 R 13.8K
0.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mali
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$260 F CFA 146.7K
$1,471 R 24.2K
-82.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.55
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mali: March 1, 2026

Last update for South Africa: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar countries